3 CLOCKS ARE 101 YEARS LATE IN MONTANA

Even a clockmaker can't be expected to be on time all the time. But 100 years late?

Wait. Better make that 101 years.It was 1889 when workers erected the Jefferson County Courthouse in this Rocky Mountain town, and blueprints called for three clocks in the brick tower. The clocks were ordered from Germany. They still haven't arrived.

It wasn't until last year that county officials decided they'd waited long enough.

This time, the county contracted with a Helena electronics distributor, who arranged for the manufacture of the timepieces in Minnesota.

Olivia Hagadone, chairwoman of the county's Museum Board, said the clocks were supposed to be installed to mark the state's centennial last year.

But they were late - again.

The clocks finally arrived last week, and the three 4-foot clocks were installed in the building's steeple.